AINP Opportunity Stream

[Naturgrl]

Agreed. And based on what I've seen, the job offer letter would need to be with the current employer.

Ultimately it's still a dice roll since CBSA can still refuse to issue.

I don't think we'll really know until we've seen several people here try.

Also the provinces have yet to outline who is eligible for a support letter. Just like PALs for study permits, it took months to implement.

 

[Heather Lee]

Also the provinces have yet to outline who is eligible for a support letter. Just like PALs for study permits, it took months to implement.

So you think it may take months for provinces? This is just a temporary regulation, it expires on Dec 31 , so it cannot take months if people are to apply, right?

 

[Heather Lee]

IRCC just released the operational instructions. You will need a provincial support letter. Someone I know contacted OINP and Ontario has yet to announce their process for issuing support letters, if they will at all. This seems to be another policy announced without collaboration with the provinces as the provinces issue the letters. But from current wording, you apply for a new work permit and include the provincial support letter and letter of employment. This doesn’t seem to be a process that can be flagpoled, but no one knows.


The foreign national:

1. Holds a valid work permit;
2. Has submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Regulations; and
3. Has provided, with the application referred to in (b),
   1. A support letter
      1. Issued by the Provincial or Territorial authority of the jurisdiction in which the foreign national resides, and that authority has signed a letter of intent with IRCC setting out its role in supporting facilitation under this public policy; and;
      2. Outlining that the foreign national has been screened by the said Provincial or Territorial authority and has been placed in an Expression of Interest pool, or is in the Provincial or Territorial authority’s application inventory process for determining eligibility, under the Provincial Nominee Program; and
   2. A letter of employment from the foreign national’s current employer

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies/work-permits-prospective-pnp-candidats.html#

So for AOS, you would need to be eligible and apply and then wait for AINP to issue you a support letter. So wait for AINP to announce who will be eligible for support letters.

Thank you so much for this answer. So I can't do anything until Alberta announces something? Shouldn't all aplicants be eligible?
Would you please give me a favour and post here if you hear something new? Thank you!

 

[Heather Lee]

Also the provinces have yet to outline who is eligible for a support letter. Just like PALs for study permits, it took months to implement.

Does it take long to issue such letter?

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank you so much for this answer. So I can't do anything until Alberta announces something? Shouldn't all aplicants be eligible?
Would you please give me a favour and post here if you hear something new? Thank you!

If all applicants are eligible then that is thousands of people and Alberta is cutting back and focusing on specific in-demand NOCS. Also the staffing required if everyone who submits an expression of interest gets a support letter. People will just be submitting an EOI just to get a letter. The provinces will decide who is eligible. Given that Alberta is revamping its programs, they may focus on specific NOCs or only select those that they will nominate. Who knows.

As for how long it takes to issue a letter, no one knows until each province outlines its plans and timelines for issuing a support letter. PALs took months to implement.

 

[Heather Lee]

I think the only way to try is to have the provincial support letter in hand, proof of application through AINP-AOS, and job offer letter.

The original job offer that I got before I started working?

 

[Naturgrl]

The original job offer that I got before I started working?

https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-alberta-opportunity-stream-eligibility#jumplinks-5

https://www.alberta.ca/job-offer-and-employer-requirements

Read the AOS requirements for a job offer and employer eligibility. Would not be able to use an old job offer because it needs to state employment of 12 months or more at time of application. Do you have your EOI submitted?

 

[Heather Lee]

https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-alberta-opportunity-stream-eligibility#jumplinks-5

https://www.alberta.ca/job-offer-and-employer-requirements

Read the AOS requirements for a job offer and employer eligibility. Would not be able to use an old job offer because it needs to state employment of 12 months or more at time of application. Do you have your EOI submitted?

Thanks, I read the eligibility, but they only say "job offer".
So how can I get a new job offer dated today for the job I'm currently working?
It says there job offer OR employment contract, so can I submit the contract instead?
No, I haven't applied yet.

 

[Heather Lee]

If all applicants are eligible then that is thousands of people and Alberta is cutting back and focusing on specific in-demand NOCS. Also the staffing required if everyone who submits an expression of interest gets a support letter. People will just be submitting an EOI just to get a letter. The provinces will decide who is eligible. Given that Alberta is revamping its programs, they may focus on specific NOCs or only select those that they will nominate. Who knows.

As for how long it takes to issue a letter, no one knows until each province outlines its plans and timelines for issuing a support letter. PALs took months to implement.

Thanks, not all TFW are on closed work permits, many of them hold OWPs and those ones don't need that letter of support.

 

[Naturgrl]

Thanks, not all TFW are on closed work permits, many of them hold OWPs and those ones don't need that letter of support.

Where did you read in the instructions that OWPs don’t need letter of support. All the instructions say are have or had work permit (doesn’t differentiate). If you read the AINP site, your job offer must offer 12 months of employment at time of application. Your employer has to support your application so you ask them for an updated letter. They are under no obligation to do so, and they might not even be eligible as there are specific employer requirements.

 

[Heather Lee]

Where did you read in the instructions that OWPs don’t need letter of support. All the instructions say are have or had work permit (doesn’t differentiate). If you read the AINP site, your job offer must offer 12 months of employment at time of application. Your employer has to support your application so you ask them for an updated letter. They are under no obligation to do so, and they might not even be eligible as there are specific employer requirements.

You said it yourself- they already have the OWP so what would they need the letter of support from the province for?
My job offer was for 36 months and I've been working only for 13 months so why couldnt I use the original job offer OR the contract like it says in the instructions you provided?
They are eligible.

 

[Naturgrl]

You said it yourself- they already have the OWP so what would they need the letter of support from the province for?
My job offer was for 36 months and I've been working only for 13 months so why couldnt I use the original job offer OR the contract like it says in the instructions you provided?
They are eligible.

Sorry which post did I state that? For this new policy (which the provinces have yet to issue statements on how support letters will be issued) you need:

The foreign national:

1. Holds a valid work permit;
2. Has submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Regulations; and
3. Has provided, with the application referred to in (b),
   1. A support letter
      1. Issued by the Provincial or Territorial authority of the jurisdiction in which the foreign national resides, and that authority has signed a letter of intent with IRCC setting out its role in supporting facilitation under this public policy; and;
      2. Outlining that the foreign national has been screened by the said Provincial or Territorial authority and has been placed in an Expression of Interest pool, or is in the Provincial or Territorial authority’s application inventory process for determining eligibility, under the Provincial Nominee Program; and
   2. A letter of employment from the foreign national’s current employer

So have you let your employer know that you want them to support your application? Your employer is part of the process and it cannot be done without their knowledge. They have to know and be eligible. If your current contract states that you will have employment for at 12 months at the time of your application and contract is dated to show that then it should not be an issue. Ask AINP for clarification.

You are on an open work permit so when does work permit expire? AINP-AOS is a job offer stream so you cannot leave that employer until you have PR. That is the purpose of the new IRCC instructions is for potential nominees to be able to continue to work with their current employer since processing for nomination and PR take so long.

 

[tee2406]

Heather Lee besides the new OWP policy they just announced, The IRCC website mentioned this when the announced that they are going to stop flagpoling for PGWP. note bolded paragraph

• Other recent measures to address flagpoling have included
  • speeding up processing times for in-Canada work permit applications
  • simplifying online application forms and processes so foreign nationals can continue working while they wait for a decision on their new application
  • authorizing workers to start working for a new employer right away, rather than waiting to have their new work permit application processed before changing jobs

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/settle-setablir-eng.html
The above website mentions:
Need to renew your work or study permit? Extend your temporary resident status? Confirm your permanent residence? Immigration services at the border are meant for individuals arriving in Canada, not for those already here. Plan ahead and use online services.
Some temporary residents of Canada leave Canada and re-enter within 24 hours to receive immigration services. This is called “flagpoling.” If you are already in Canada, you should use IRCC's online immigration services.

If you decide to come to a port of entry for immigration services, you may find long lineups and your turn may not come before the end of service hours.

To get an OWP permit, you have to fall under the LMIA exempt categories: if those do not apply to you, I do not see you getting an OWP unless you wait for the new policies and get a support letter from your province.

Refugee claimants and those under an unenforceable removal order [R206(a) or (b) – code S61 or S62]			Checked
Applicants for permanent residence from within Canada [R207 – code A70]			Checked
Open work permit for vulnerable workers [R207.1 – code A72]			Checked
Humanitarian reasons [R208(a) or (b) – code H81 or H82]			Checked
International Experience Canada (IEC): Working Holiday participants [R205(b) – code C21] (there are also specific recognized organizations whose participants receive open work permits)	Checked	Footnote*	Footnote**
Family members of Military personnel [R205(b) – code C20, where a reciprocal agreement exists or R205(c)(ii) – code C41/C46 or C47/C48, where is no reciprocal agreement	Checked	Checked Footnote***	Checked
Family members of foreign representatives [R205(b) – code C20]	Checked	Checked	Checked
Professional athletes who are authorized to enter Canada on the basis of paragraph R205(b) – code C26 and who require other work to support themselves while playing for a Canadian team (for instance, as part of the Canadian Football League)	Checked	Checked	Checked
Family members of temporary workers who are high-skilled workers [R205(c) – code C41] low-skilled workers [R205(c)(ii) – code C47 and C48] economic class permanent resident applicants who were nominated or selected by a province [R205(c)(ii) – code C49]	Checked	Checked	Checked
Spouses or common-law partners of study permit holders [R205(c) – code C42]	Checked	Checked	Checked
Bridging open work permits [R205(a) – code A75]			Checked
Public policy for spouse or common-law partner in Canada class or family class applicants to apply in Canada [R205(a) – A74]			Checked
Post-graduation work permits [R205(c) – C43]	Checked		Checked
Post-secondary co-op [R205(c) – code C32] and secondary co-op [R205(c) – code C33]	Checked	Checked	Checked
Occupation-restricted open work permit under Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot – Gaining experience category [R205(a) – C90] [principal applicant: R205(a) – code C90] [family members: R205(a) – code C91]	Checked		Checked
Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently outside Quebec [R205(a) – A76]

 

[tee2406]

You can ask all you want, sometimes you will know if you eligible or not after you apply. Check the IRCC website for what you need, use that.
Two people might apply for the same thing submitting the exact same information and one might be denied while the other is approved. This is not exact science.

 

[Heather Lee]

Sorry which post did I state that? For this new policy (which the provinces have yet to issue statements on how support letters will be issued) you need:

The foreign national:

1. Holds a valid work permit;
2. Has submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Regulations; and
3. Has provided, with the application referred to in (b),
   1. A support letter
      1. Issued by the Provincial or Territorial authority of the jurisdiction in which the foreign national resides, and that authority has signed a letter of intent with IRCC setting out its role in supporting facilitation under this public policy; and;
      2. Outlining that the foreign national has been screened by the said Provincial or Territorial authority and has been placed in an Expression of Interest pool, or is in the Provincial or Territorial authority’s application inventory process for determining eligibility, under the Provincial Nominee Program; and
   2. A letter of employment from the foreign national’s current employer

So have you let your employer know that you want them to support your application? Your employer is part of the process and it cannot be done without their knowledge. They have to know and be eligible. If your current contract states that you will have employment for at 12 months at the time of your application and contract is dated to show that then it should not be an issue. Ask AINP for clarification.

You are on an open work permit so when does work permit expire? AINP-AOS is a job offer stream so you cannot leave that employer until you have PR. That is the purpose of the new IRCC instructions is for potential nominees to be able to continue to work with their current employer since processing for nomination and PR take so long.

So you're saying I can't leave this employer even when I get the OWP? What happens if I do?